Lighting unit and method of controlling

ABSTRACT

A lighting unit for illuminating a habitat is provided. The lighting unit includes a housing and a light emitter. The operating parameters of the lighting unit may be adjusted to mimic different natural conditions.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIMS TO PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/839,054, filed Dec. 12, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,440,940, which isa continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/530,916, filed Jun. 22,2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,839,206, which claims the benefit of priorityto provisional application Ser. No. 61/499,763, filed Jun. 22, 2011, andprovisional application Ser. No. 61/530,062, filed on Sep. 1, 2011, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference and to whichpriority is claimed.

BACKGROUND

Animal and plant habitats, for example aquariums, terrariums, greenhouses, etc., are environments housing one or more species of floraand/or fauna, such as fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals,turtles, plants or any combination thereof. These species requirediligent care which includes specific control of environmentalconditions within the habitats. Environmental conditions such astemperature, light wavelength and intensity, salinity, and flow controlof air or water inside the habitat must be regulated to accommodate forthe sustainability or growth of the particular species living therein.Optimum conditions will vary from species to species.

One component of controlling the environmental conditions in a habitatis the amount and type of light. Standard lighting units typicallyutilize a fluorescent or metal halide bulb that produces light at aspecific spectrum and intensity. These lights may be hung above thehabitat or be part of a hood or other unit which connects directly tothe habitat. Typical lighting units are designed to provide lightsufficient to permit a user to observe the habitat.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a lighting unit includesa housing, an emitter assembly, and a fan assembly. The emitter assemblyis at least partially received in the housing. The emitter assemblyincludes a light emitter. The fan assembly is also at least partiallyreceived in the housing. The fan assembly includes a fan blade forgenerating airflow and a curved baffle situated over the fan blade fordirecting the airflow.

Another aspect provides a lighting unit including a core, first andsecond emitter assemblies and a fan. The core includes a first outerregion, a second outer region, and an interior region disposed betweenthe first outer region and the second outer region. The interior regionincludes an opening and a heat sink for dissipating heat. The firstemitter assembly is connected to the core and includes a first lightemitter device. The second emitter assembly is connected to the core andincludes a second light emitter device. The fan generates airflowthrough the opening that removes heat dissipated by the heat sink.

Another aspect provides a lighting unit including a housing, a lightemitter, a USB port, and internal memory. The light emitter is containedin the housing. The USB port connects the lighting unit to a computer.The internal memory stores information received from the computer.

In accordance with a further aspect, a method of controlling a lightingunit includes monitoring temperature information at a first location inthe lighting unit. The temperature information is relayed to a circuitthat is operably connected to a fan assembly and an emitter assembly. Itis determined if a first temperature threshold has been crossed. If thefirst temperature threshold has been crossed, at least one of areduction in light intensity or an increase in fan speed is performed.

A further aspect includes a method of controlling the environmentalconditions of a habitat. An operating mode is selected having associateddata related to light intensity and light color. The associated data istransmitted to a lighting unit. The associated data is stored in thelighting unit. The operating parameters of the lighting unit areadjusted to correspond to the associated data.

Other embodiments, including apparatus, systems, assemblies, methods,and the like which constitute part of the invention, will become moreapparent upon reading the following detailed description of theexemplary embodiments and viewing the drawings. It is to be understoodthat both the foregoing general description and the following detaileddescription are exemplary and explanatory only and therefore notnecessarily restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part ofthe specification. The drawings, together with the general descriptiongiven above and the detailed description of the exemplary embodimentsand methods given below, serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an aquatic habitat equipped with alighting unit according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of an aquatic habitat equipped with theexemplary lighting unit of FIG. 11.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lighting unit according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective, exploded view of the core and housing of thelighting unit of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lighting unit core of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary end cap of the housing ofthe lighting unit of FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the lighting unit core and the fan assembly ofthe lighting unit of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the lighting unit core and fanassembly of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8A is a top perspective, exploded view of the fan assemblyaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8B is a bottom perspective, exploded view of the fan assembly ofFIG. 8A.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of internal components of a lighting unitaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective, exploded view of one of the emitter assembliesof the light assembly of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of an alternative exemplary lighting unit.

FIG. 12 is a perspective, exploded view of portions of the exemplarylighting unit of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a front view of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of one of the emitter assemblies of FIGS.11-13.

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a lens assembly.

FIG. 17 is a screen-shot of an exemplary software program forprogramming the lighting unit.

FIG. 18 is another screen-shot of an exemplary software program forprogramming the lighting unit.

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of an exemplary lighting unit connected toexternal devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S) AND EXEMPLARY METHOD(S)

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments andmethods of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich like reference characters designate like or corresponding partsthroughout the drawings. It should be noted, however, that the inventionin its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details,representative devices and methods, and illustrative examples shown anddescribed in connection with the exemplary embodiments and methods.

FIG. 1A depicts a lighting unit 10, for use with a habitat 12. In anexemplary embodiment, the habitat 12 is an aquatic habitat such as amarine aquarium, though aspects of the invention may extend to otherembodiments using non-aquatic habitats. The habitat 12 has a pair ofopposite side walls 14 a, 14 b spaced apart from one another and a pairof spaced end walls 16 a, 16 b extending between opposite side edges ofthe side walls 14 a, 14 b. The habitat 12 has a bottom 18, and an opentop 20. Although not shown, a cover may be placed over all or a portionof the open top 20. The cover may be either integral with or connectedto the habitat 12. The cover may be transparent or provided withopenings, such as a screen or grate. Though depicted as having astandard rectangular shape, the habitat 12 may have different sizes,shapes, and configurations while including any number of walls. Thewalls may be flat as shown, or they may be curved. The walls of thehabitat 12 may be made from a variety of materials, including glass or ahigh-strength acrylic.

Components, such as pumps, fans, filters, etc., may be attached to orused in connection with the habitat 12 to alter or control theenvironment therein. Depending on the organisms living in the habitat12, different components will be appropriate. In the exemplaryembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the habitat 12 includes a set of pumps22, with a pump 22 located on each of the side walls 14 a, 14 b and eachof the end walls 16 a 16 b in the illustrated embodiment. The habitat 12may also include a filter 24 and a heater 26. These components maycollectively affect specific environmental conditions to the habitat 12.For example, the pumps 22 can create different flow types to mimicnatural tides and the lighting unit 10 can follow a day and night cycle.In order to create a close approximation of a natural environment, thelighting unit 10 possess the capability of providing diverse outputssuch as different light intensities, different light patterns, differentlight colors, etc.

FIGS. 2 and 3 depict exemplary components of the lighting unit 10, whichincludes a housing 28 constructed from a top plate 30, a pair of endcaps 32, a pair of side walls 34, and a bottom cover 36. The housing 28may be designed to totally encase portions of the lighting unit 10 or toleave certain gaps and spaces. The housing 28 elements may be connectedto each other and/or to a core component by suitable mechanicalfasteners, such as screws or clips, or with adhesives.

The top plate 30 may be made from a polymer, metal, composite, or othersuitable material. In an exemplary embodiment the top plate 30 is madefrom a fiberglass-reinforced polymer that may be powder coated andetched to provide a desired color and design. The top plate 30 may alsobe made from an acrylic material that is painted or etched. The topplate 30 may have openings such as holes 31 for receiving fasteners 39as show in FIG. 2. The fasteners 39 connect the top plate 30 to othercomponents in the lighting unit 10, for example a core 48 as discussedin further detail below. The end caps 32 may be made from a polymer ormetal material and include mechanical fasteners for connecting to thelighting unit 10 as discussed in further detail below. The bottom cover36 may be made from glass, an acrylic polymer, or other transparentmaterials as well as non-transparent materials including metals andpolymers. The bottom cover 36 may include openings, for example a centeropening 37 and a first and second side openings 38 a, 38 b on oppositesides of the center opening 37. The openings 37, 38 a, 38 b may be usedto allow various components to extend through the housing 28 andcommunicate with the atmosphere outside of the housing 28. Variousembodiments may include more openings or fewer openings depending on theoperating parameters of the lighting unit 10.

As best shown in FIG. 1A, a suspension assembly 40 a may be connected tothe housing 28 to suspend the lighting unit 10 over the habitat 12. Thesuspension assembly 40 may include wires or cords which attach to thetop plate 30. For example, a wire may attach to each of the fasteners 39and then connect to a post or cord which is hung from a ceiling orconnected to a wall bracket.

As best shown in FIG. 1B, a suspension assembly 40 b may be connected tothe housing 28 to suspend a lighting unit 110 over the habitat 12. Thesuspension assembly 40 b includes a set of brackets 41. The brackets 41may connect to the lighting unit 110 through a set of wires or cordswhich attach to the top plate 30. For example, a wire may attach to eachof the fasteners 39. In various exemplary embodiments, the suspensionassemblies 40 a, 40 b may also include other supports, brackets, posts,struts, legs, clips, or additional mechanical components which attachthe top plate 30, end caps 32, side walls 34, bottom cover 36, or anycombination thereof to a ceiling, wall, or to a component of the habitat12, such as the side walls 14 a, 14 b, the end walls 16 a, 16 b, thebottom 18, or the top 20.

A user interface 42 may be incorporated into the top plate 30 asdepicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. The user interface 42 may include a set ofinput buttons, indicator lights, a display screen such as a touchscreen, or any combination therefore. Other audio, visual, tactile,input, and output devices also may be associated with the user interface42 as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art uponviewing this disclosure.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the user interface 42includes a panel 44 located beneath the top plate 30. The panel 44 maybe a printed circuit board and include various electrical components 46associated with the user interface 42, such as capacitive sensingdevices, pressure sensing devices, light emitting diodes (LEDs),processors, piezoelectric devices, or any combination thereof. Theelectrical components 46 will vary depending on the functions of theuser interface 42 and the lighting unit 10. In various exemplaryembodiments, a piezoelectric device may be associated with the userinterface 42 and configured to emit vibrations to provide tactilefeedback to communicate any number of instructions or status informationto a user. Tactile feedback may be provided to a user, for example, whena button has been pressed or to alert a user that there is an error inthe programming input. A thermal pad may be placed underneath theelectrical components 46 so as to space the electrical components 46from other components in the lighting unit 10. The thermal pad limitsthe amount of heat transferred to and from the electrical components 46and the rest of the lighting unit 10. The thermal pad may be made from apolymeric, elastomeric, or a cellulosic material. The thermal pad mayalso be resilient to provide cushion and prevent damage to theelectrical components 46.

In addition to providing operating information, the user interface 42may allow a user to set and control conditions pertaining to thelighting unit 10. This may include allowing a user to change the lightcolor, change the light intensity, and select different operating modes.Different operating modes may include different light patterns andintensities, that are either set or vary over time. The operating modesmay be preprogrammed and preloaded, downloaded, and programmed by auser. Examples of different operating modes that may be selected includenight, sunrise, day, sunset, lunar colors, storms, and solar cycles.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the user interface 42 includes a firstbutton 43 a, a second button 43 b, and a third button 43 c. Thoughvarious exemplary embodiments utilize buttons 43 a-43 c as shown, otherinput methods such as a touch-screen panel, switches, keys, or otherdevices may be utilized. More or less buttons 43 a-43 c may also beused. Different buttons 43 a-43 c, either individually or incombination, may perform different functions. For example, the firstbutton 43 a may reduce the light intensity, the second button 43 b mayincrease the light intensity, the third button 43 c may change the colorof the light output, and a combination of the first button 43 a and thesecond button 43 b may cycle through different operating modes.

The lighting unit 10 may also be programmed so that different gesturesor combinations of activated buttons 43 a-43 c select a specificoperating mode or perform a certain set of instructions. Gestures mayinclude swiping a finger across all or a limited number of buttons 43a-43 c on the user interface 42 in a single direction or in anycombination of directions. For example, the user interface 42 mayinclude capacitive sensors and be programmed so that when a user swipesa finger across the user interface 42 from left to right, activating allthe buttons 43 a-43 c, the lighting unit 10 goes into a certainoperational mode, such as sunrise mode. Gestures may be combined witheach other or with pressing one or more buttons to provide a greaternumber of accessible programmed operating modes. For example, swiping afinger across the interface 42 from left to right and then pressingbutton 43 c may activate a sunset mode.

In an exemplary embodiment, the lighting unit 10 is capable ofcommunicating with and directing other components of the habitat 12, forexample, pumps 22 or additional lighting units 10. In such instances,commands input to the lighting unit 10 by the user may be relayed toother components. Communication between the lighting unit 10 and othercomponents may be facilitated by a Wi-Fi device, radio module, or otherwireless communication device. When a user selects or gestures for aspecific operating mode, the lighting unit 10 and the pumps 22 may bothadjust their operating parameters to that specific mode. This may beutilized to coordinate specific light outputs with specific flowpatterns and temperatures. For example, a certain light intensity andcolor may be associated with a pump 22 operation that produces calmwater flow to provide optimized feeding conditions for various organismsin the habitat 12. Other components, such as the filter 24 and theheater 26, may be controlled or adjusted in this manner.

Different button selections, including single button selections, buttoncombinations, and gestures, may be also customized by a user. A user mayinput programming features directly to the lighting unit 10 through theuser interface 42 or programming features may be input to a separatedevice that communicates with the lighting unit 10. For example, a usermay create a customized feature for a particular gesture on a remotecontrol unit, a computer, or a smart phone. Instructions will then besent by the device to the lighting unit 10, either wirelessly or througha physical connection, such as a USB connection (not shown).Additionally, software may be provided and allow a user to createdifferent operating parameters as discussed in greater detail withrespect to FIGS. 17 and 18.

The exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 shows a core 48 of thelighting unit 20. The side walls 34 of the housing 28 may be connectedto or formed integral with the core 48 or they may be separate from thecore 48 and connect independently to other components in the housing 28.The core 48 includes a first side region 50 a, a second side region 50b, and an inner region 52. The core 48 may be made from, for example, ametallic, polymer, ceramic, or composite material. In an exemplaryembodiment, the core 48 is an extruded piece of aluminum or a thermallyconductive polymer.

The side regions 50 a, 50 b may have a substantially planar top surfaceportion and be substantially perpendicular to the side walls 34 toprovide an L-shaped channel. This channel may contain a rib 53 a whichaligns with a similar rib 53 b on the end caps 32. The two sets of ribs53 a, 53 b provide a ledge which assists in positioning and retainingthe bottom cover 36. The side regions 50 may also include a number ofholes 54 for connecting the top plate 30 to the core 48 using fasteners39. A side region 50 a, 50 b may also include a slot 56 which providesspace for various components to attach to and extend through the core48. Other holes, slots, and openings may be provided in the core 48depending on the layout and design of the lighting unit 10.

As best shown in the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, theside regions 50 a, 50 b are located on opposite sides of a single innerregion 52. Varying numbers of side regions 50 a, 50 b and inner regions52 may be utilized. Moreover, the outer planar areas are referred to asside regions 50 a, 50 b for simplicity and clarity to describe the shownexemplary embodiments, but need not be located on the periphery of thecore 48. Similarly, the inner region 52 may be spaced in any location,central to a pair of side regions 50 a, 50 b or otherwise.

The inner region 52 may be on a plane spaced vertically below the sideregions 50 a, 50 b. The inner region 52 may include a heat sink forcooling the lighting unit 10. The heat sink may include, for example, aseries of fins 58. The fins 58 may be formed integrally with and extendupwardly from the bottom planar surface of the inner region 52 orattached thereto. The fins 58 may extend substantially parallel to oneanother to permit airflow therebetween. While the figures show variousexemplary embodiments utilizing fins 58, any manner or design of a heatsink or heat exchanger may be used in place of, or in combination with,the fins 58 to dissipate heat. The inner region 52 may also be providedwith an opening 60 for allowing various components attached to the core48 to extend through the inner region 52. The opening 60 may separatethe inner region 52 into first and second sections as best shown in FIG.4. A number of heat fins 58 may extend across opposite sides of theopening 60, connecting the first and second sections of the inner region52. Depending on the desired functions of the lighting unit 10, multipleopenings 60 may be provided and the inner portion 52 may be separatedinto any number of sections.

As best shown in the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the endcaps 32 include brackets 62 for attaching the end caps 32 to the core48. A fastener (not shown) may be placed or threaded through the bottomof the bracket 62 and into a hole in the inner region 52 to secure theattachment. In various exemplary embodiments the end caps 32 may beconnected to the core 48, housing 28, or other components of thelighting unit 10 in a variety of ways, including other forms ofmechanical fasteners and/or adhesives. Tabs 64 are also provided on theend caps 32 to help align the end caps 32 with the core 48. As bestshown in FIG. 5, the tabs 64 may have an L-shaped configuration. Each ofthe end caps 32 includes a passage 66. When the end caps 32 areconnected to the core 48, the passages 66 align with the inner region 52and the fins 58. The passages 66 create an opening which allows air tofreely circulate between the fins 58 and the outside of the housing 28.The passages 66 may be sized to have a width and height substantiallyequal to the array of fins 58, though smaller or larger passages 66 mayalso be used. As best shown in FIG. 5, the passages 66 include a curvedwall 67. The curved wall 67 reduces turbulence, promoting laminar airflow through the passage 66. This reduction in turbulence results inquieter operation and reduced vibrations.

FIGS. 6 and 7 depict an exemplary embodiment of the lighting unit 10having a fan assembly 70 positioned in the opening 60 and FIGS. 8A and8B depict an exemplary embodiment of the fan assembly 70 independentfrom the remainder of the lighting unit 10. The fan assembly 70 includesa hood 72, a blade housing 78, a set of fan blades 80, and a grate 82.

The hood 72 includes a set of flanges 73 a-73 d. Though four flanges 73are depicted in the figures, fewer or more flanges 73 may be used. Eachflange 73 a-73 d has an outer hole 75 a and an inner hole 75 b. Theouter and inner holes 75 a, 75 b assist in connecting the hood 72 to thecore 48 and to other components in the fan assembly 70, for example viamechanical fasteners. In an exemplary embodiment, the outer holes 75 afacilitate a connection to the core 48 while the inner holes 75 bfacilitate a connection to the blade housing 78.

As best shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the hood 72 includes a spine 74 and apair of baffles 76. The baffles 76 may be curved and meet at the spine74 to form a V-shaped cross section. The fan assembly 70 may be operatedto draw air in through the recessed portions 66 and fins 58, through thehood 72, and out through the grate 82 or it may be operated to draw airin through the grate 80, through the hood 72, and out through the fins58 and passages 66. When air is drawn in through the grate 82, airentering the hood 72 is separated by the spine 74 so that the air flowrate is approximately symmetric as it moves in both directions along thebaffles 76. In an exemplary embodiment, the baffles 76 are designed todirect the air flow to the fins 58 while maintaining the momentum of theair flow through the fan assembly 70, reducing or eliminating the amountof turbulence. After passing through the fins 58, the air may then flowout of opposite ends of the housing 28 through the passages 66 of theend caps 32. While a two-directional hood 72 having two baffles 76 isshown in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 6-9, the number of baffles 76may vary depending on the design of the lighting unit 10 and the fanassembly 70.

The baffles 76 of the hood 72 allow air to flow more efficiently throughthe housing 28. The efficient air flow reduces noise and vibration andalso provides a greater cooling effect, allowing for the use of moreadvanced electronics, greater light intensities, and/or more lightingelements in a smaller space. Additionally, the greater cooling effectallows for a smaller fan assembly 70 or allows the fan assembly 70 tooperate at a slower speed, both of which reduce noise, vibrations, andenergy usage. In an exemplary embodiment, the baffles 76 are designed tomaintain substantially laminar air flow through the fan assembly 70 tofurther increase efficiency and reduce noise.

As best shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the blade housing 78 contains a hub 79and a set of blades 80. The blade housing 78 may be a unitary structureor be composed of multiple pieces. The blade housing 78 may include anaxle (not shown) on which the hub 79 rotates. The blades 80 may beformed integrally with the hub 79 or otherwise connected thereto. In anexemplary embodiment, the blades 80 are impeller blades. The blades 80may be designed so that the fan assembly 70 operates as an axial flowimpeller, drawing air from underneath the fan assembly 70, for examplethrough the grate 82. The blades 80 may also be designed so that air isdrawn through the housing and exhausted out of the grate 82. Other typesof blades 80, including radial flow and mix flow propellers or impellersmay also be used.

In an exemplary embodiment, the grate 82 attaches to the blade housing78 through the center opening 37 of the bottom cover 36. The grate 82helps prevent objects, organisms housed in the habitat 12, or a userfrom coming in contact with the blades 80 of the fan assembly 70. In anexemplary embodiment, the grate 82 is attached to the lighting unit 10in a manner which holds the bottom cover 36 in place, for exampleagainst the ribs 53 a on the core 48 and against ribs 53 b on theendcaps. In various exemplary embodiments, the grate 82 may be omittedand the bottom cover 36 may be attached to the core 48 throughmechanical fasteners.

FIGS. 9 and 10 depict an exemplary embodiment of emitter assemblies 86a, 86 b used in connection with the lighting unit 10. The emitterassemblies 86 a, 86 b may attach to the core 48, for example underneaththe inner region 52. Attachment of the emitter assemblies 86 a, 86 bvary depending on the overall design and materials used and may be, forexample, achieved using mechanical fasteners, adhesives, soldering,welding, etc. In various exemplary embodiments, the fins 58 extend atleast partially over the emitter assemblies 86 a, 86 b. Placing the fins58 directly over the emitter assemblies 86 a, 86 b helps to effectivelytransfer heat from the emitter assemblies 86 a, 86 b to the atmosphere.The emitter assemblies 86 a, 86 b utilize any number of light emitters90, which may be placed in a variety of groupings and spacing patterns.Though only two emitter assemblies 86 a, 86 b are shown, any number maybe utilized depending on the design of the lighting unit 10. In variousexemplary embodiments, the number of emitter assemblies 86 a, 86 bequals the number of interior regions 52 and the number of baffles 76.

As best shown in FIG. 10, the exemplary emitter assembly 86 a includes atop panel 88, an insulator 96, and a reflector 98. The top panel 88 maybe a printed circuit board (PCB), for example an aluminum clad PCB. Anarray of light emitters 90 and a terminal block 94 may be mounted on orotherwise connected to the top panel 88. In an exemplary embodiment, thelight emitters 90 are LEDs, though a variety of light sources may beutilized, including the use of different types of light emitters 90 inthe same array. Each light emitter 90 may be capable of emitting lightover a range of intensities and wavelengths, or different light emitters90 can have a dedicated wavelength or intensity. In an exemplaryembodiment, groups of light emitters 90 have a range of wavelengths thatis different or slightly overlaps with other groups of light emitters90. For example, light emitters 90 may be separated into different colorgroups of white, red, green, blue, royal blue, violet, and/orultraviolet. The wavelength of the light emitters 90 of each group maybe varied to produce different shades and intensities of each color.Each color group may be separated into individual channels andcontrolled separately.

The light emitters 90 are electrically connected to the circuit board 92and to the terminal block 94. In an exemplary embodiment, each colorgroup is on a single channel, so that the light emitters 90 are groupcontrolled though individual control may also be employed. In variousexemplary embodiments, the lighting unit 10 may utilize six or morechannels to control the light emitters 90, though any number of channels(one or more) may be utilized depending on the configuration. Thecircuit board 92 may contain various electrical components, the type andnumber of which will depend on the type of light emitters 90 used andthe desired operating parameters and capabilities for the light emitters90 as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The insulator 96 may be made from an assortment of materials, includinga polymer, elastomeric, ceramic, or paper material. The insulator 96 caninhibit the amount of heat transferred to the reflector 98, and thusdirect most of the generated heat to the core 48 and to the fins 58. Theinsulator 96 may also protect the top panel 88 and the light emitters 90from unwanted contact with the reflector 98.

The reflector 98 may be made from a metallic, ceramic, polymer, orcomposite material. In an exemplary embodiment the reflector 98 is madefrom molded plastic and plated with aluminum. In the embodiment shown inthe figures, the reflector 98 extends through the side openings 38 inthe bottom cover 36 and directs light from the light assembly 86 to thehabitat 12. In various other embodiments, the reflector 98 may becontained completely in the housing 28 and the light may be directedthrough the transparent bottom cover 36. The reflector 98 may havevarious shapes and sizes depending on the requirements of the habitat12.

As best shown in FIG. 9, the light assemblies 86 are connected to acircuit board 100 through a series of wires 102. The ends of wires 102are attached to PCB connectors 104 which plug into the terminal blocks94. The wires 102 may be at least partially surrounded and held in placeby a wire harness 106. The circuit board 100 may be connected to theuser interface 42 and the fan assembly 70 in a similar manner. Thecircuit board 100 may attach to the bottom of a side region 50 of thecore 48, for example, using mechanical fasteners. The slot 56 in theouter region 50 allows various components associated with the circuitboard 100 to extend through the core 48 as needed. The circuit board 100may contain one or more microcontrollers or microprocessors forreceiving and processing data and providing an output to control thevarious components of the lighting unit 10. The microprocessor may haveor be associated with memory for storing received data. The circuitboard 100 may contain a variety of electrical components, which mayinclude resistors, transistors, capacitors, microcontrollers,processors, clock generators, or microchips depending on the desiredoperation of the lighting unit 10 as would be understood by one ofordinary skill in the art.

The microprocessor may be connected to a driver that controls the outputof the light emitters 90, for example by varying the wavelength andintensity of individual or groups of light emitters 90, by cycling onand off individual or groups of light emitters 90, or through acombination of both. This allows the lighting unit 10 to providedifferent lighting characteristics and patterns to the habitat 12. Forexample, the driver can vary the intensity of the light emitters 90, ora group of light emitters 90, over the course of 24 hours to mimic aday-and-night cycle. A day-and-night cycle effect may also be achievedby varying the color of the light emitters 90, depending on the types ofemitters used. The driver may also control the light emitters 90 to dim,brighten, or selectively turn on and off individual light emitters 90,depending upon the wavelength of light. In this manner, the overalllight color emitted by the lighting unit 10 may be controlled to promotethe growth and health of specific organisms in the habitat 12, such asplants, coral or anemones. More than one driver may be employeddepending on the size of the lighting unit 10, the number of emitterassemblies 86 a, 86 b, and the desired functionality of each emitterassembly 86 a, 86 b, and the desired independent operation of eachemitter assembly 86. A thermal pad or pads (not shown) may be placedbetween the driver and other components of the lighting unit 10 toaffect the amount of heat transferred to and from the driver.

In an exemplary embodiment the microprocessor is capable of controllingthe fan assembly 70, for example, in a similar manner employed with theemitter assemblies 86 a, 86 b. The fan assembly 70 may be connected to adriver or other similar control circuit, for example, either to the samedriver as the emitter assemblies 86 a, 86 b or to a separate driver. Thefan assembly 70 may be controlled by varying the speed of the fan blade80 and by cycling the fan blade 80 on and off. The lighting unit 10 mayalso have the capability to measure the internal and externaltemperature of the lighting unit 10 at specific points. Devices formeasuring the temperature may include resistive temperature detectors,thermistors, thermocouples, and silicone integrated circuit temperaturesensors (not shown). The temperature measuring devices may be placed inthe lighting unit 10 and their output may be sent to a component of thecircuit board 100, such as the microprocessor or to a dedicated devicesuch as a microcontroller. For example, thermistors may be connected tothe top panel 88 of the emitter assemblies 86. Temperature informationmay then be relayed to a microprocessor, for example, through wires 102.Based on the output from the thermistors the microprocessor controlsboth the light emitters 90 and the fan assembly 70 to keep operatingtemperatures at or below a set value. If an excessive temperature isdetected, the microprocessor may raise the fan speed, dim the lightemitters 90, turn off a number of light emitters 90 or an entire emitterassembly 86 a, or any combination thereof. The lighting unit 10 may alsobe capable of alerting a user when an excessive temperature is detected.Alerts may be through an audio or visual signal emitted from thelighting unit 10 or alerts may be sent to a remote device or locationsuch as a computer or a users phone, example through a radio or wirelesssignal.

In an exemplary embodiment, the lighting unit 10 may be provided with abackup battery (not shown). The backup battery may automatically supplypower to the lighting unit in the event that another power source, suchas a primary battery or outlet power, fails. In the event that thebackup battery is activated, the microprocessor may turn off the lightemitters 90 or lower the light output to a minimal level so that thebattery power may be conserved. Operation of the fan assembly 70 maysimilarly be discontinued or adjusted. Minimal light and fan speedlevels may be pre-programmed or manually set by the user.

The minimal level of light may vary depending on the species in thehabitat 12. For example, when the habitat 12 contains plants, theminimal level of light may be sufficient to sustain photosynthesis. Aswould be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the minimallight intensity to sustain photosynthesis depends on the type of plantor plants. The minimal level of light also depends on the conditions ofthe habitat which may affect the light transferred from the lightingunit 10 to the plants. For example, in an aquatic habitat 12, the levelof light reaching underwater plants will depend on the clarity of thewater and the depth of the plants. In aquatic habitats it may beimportant to maintain photosynthesis so that oxygen is not drawn fromwater by the plants, potentially harming other species such as fish.Various devices, such as a Secchi disk or electronic light meter may beutilized to determine the intensity of light reaching the plants in aspecific habitat 12. The lighting unit 10 may then be programmed for theappropriate minimal amount of light to sustain photosynthesis for theindividual habitat 12.

The microprocessor may also contain or be connected to a communicationunit. The communication unit may be a wireless communication module,such as a Wi-Fi module or a proprietary radio module. The communicationunit may be capable of receiving commands from a user or centralizedcontroller and instructing the driver to vary or modify the output ofthe light emitters 86 to create different lighting effects. Thecommunication unit is also capable of communicating with othercomponents of the habitat 12, for example the pumps 22, to provide andreceive operating information and to provide and receive monitoringinformation. In an exemplary embodiment, the communication unit iscapable of sending information to a user, such as alerts or statusupdates, through the Internet or directly to a personal device of auser, such as a remote or a phone.

FIGS. 11-15 depict an alternative exemplary embodiment of the lightingunit 110. The lighting unit 110 includes a bottom cover 112 having acentral opening 114 for receiving a fan 116 and a pair of side openings118 a, 118 b. The bottom cover 112 may be made from any of the materialsdescribed above with respect to the bottom cover 36. In an exemplaryembodiment, the bottom cover 112 is opaque and a pair of transparentlenses 120 a, 120 b are disposed in the side openings 118 a, 118 b. Thetransparent lenses 120 a, 120 b may connect to reflectors 122 a, 122 b,for example with mechanical fasteners 124. Each reflector 122 a, 122 bforms a respective emitter assembly 126 a, 126 b which also includes aprinted circuit board 127 a, 127 b and light emitters 130. Thereflectors 122 a, 122 b may be connected to the printed circuit boards127 a, 127 b through mechanical fasteners 128. This configuration allowsindividual emitter assemblies 126 a, 126 b to be easily switched in andout of the lighting unit 110.

As with the emitter assemblies 86 a, 86 b discussed above, the emitterassemblies 126 a, 126 b shown in FIGS. 11-15 may contain an array oflight emitters 130 connected to the printed circuit board 127 a, 127 b.As best shown in FIG. 14, the reflector 122 a includes an outer edge 134a having a curved configuration. The reflector 122 a also includesindividual light guides 136 a extending from a base 138 a. Eachindividual light guide 136 a surrounds a corresponding light emitter130. The individual light guides 136 a may have a conical configurationwith a curved cross section, for example and elliptical cross section.The use of the individual light guides 136 a lowers the level at whichlight from individual light emitters 130 crosses one another, allowingfor a more even distribution of light.

As best shown in FIG. 15, the light emitters 130 may comprises whiteLEDs 140 a-140 d, rows of blue LEDs 142 a-142 c, green LEDs 144 a, 144b, and red LEDs 146 a, 146 b. This configuration of LEDs along with thereflector 122 a more effectively blends the light, creating an evendistribution of light and allowing for a wider variety of realisticlight patterns. Various patterns and configurations of light emitters130 may be used depending on the habitat 12 and the inhabitants thereof.The light emitters 130 may also include ultraviolet and violet light.The lighting unit 110 may allow each light emitter 130 to be controlledindividually or the colors may be separated into different groups andcontrolled on different channels.

FIG. 16 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a lens assembly 150 which maybe used in place of the reflectors 122 a, 122 b and the lenses 120 a,120 b. The lens assembly 150 includes a base 152, a set of posts 154,and a series of lenses 156. The base 152 may be made from any suitablematerial, for example, metal or a polymer material. The base 152 may bemade from a single piece of material or have a multi-piece constructionto provide cover for, and allow access to the posts 154 and the lenses156. The posts 154 may receive an mechanical fastener (not shown) toattach the base to various components in the lighting unit 110. Thelenses 156 may each be associated with a light emitter 130. The lensesmay be made from a transparent material for example, a polymer such asacrylic or polycarbonate or glass. In various exemplary embodiments, thelenses 156 are designed to be total internal reflection (TIR) lenses.The TIR lenses provide a greater spread of light at a higher intensityover a greater depth. When used in connection with an aquatic habitat12, this allows a greater intensity of light to reach further into thehabitat 12.

As best shown in FIGS. 17-19, software may be provided to a user forallowing a user to program, monitor and control the lighting unit 10 andother components of the habitat 12. As best shown in FIG. 19, a user mayaccess the software at a location 200. The software may be providedlocally on a user device or hosted on a remote server with accessprovided through the Internet. The software may be compatible with avariety of operating systems, including MAC, Windows, Linux, and mobilebased operating systems. As best shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, a user maycreate a profile having different light colors and intensitiesassociated with different times of day. The profile may be displayed toa user through various outputs, including the graphical output shown inFIG. 17.

Profiles may then be implemented by one or more lighting units. In anexemplary embodiment, a user connects a first lighting unit 210 to acomputer 200, for example through a USB connection 202 to a USB port203. The first lighting unit 210 may then connect to additionalcomponents in the habitat 12, for example, a second lighting unit 220and a pump 240, such as pumps 22 depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B. In anexemplary embodiment, the first lighting unit 210 may include acommunication unit 204 to connect to additional components through awireless connection 212, though a hard connection may also be used. Asbest shown in FIG. 18, a user may adjust the intensity of each colorprovided with the lighting unit 210 and the overall brightness producedby the lighting unit 210. A user may also select additional weatherrelated conditions such as clouds and storm probability. Various pre-setprofiles may be provided to a user to accept or modify, or a user maycreate an individual profile from scratch.

The lighting unit 210 may receive data related to a selected profile.The first lighting unit 210 may include a microprocessor 206 forprocessing the data received from the computer 200. The microprocessormay include or be operably associated with memory 208 for storing thereceived data. The lighting unit 210 initiates the profile, creating theselected light and weather patterns. For example, if a storm profile hasbeen selected, the lighting unit may dim to mimic cloud cover andinitiate brief flashes of bright light to mimic lightning. The lightingunit 10 may be capable of storing a received profile and repeatedlyexecuting the profile until different instructions are received. Thelighting unit 10 may also be capable of storing a number of profiles,for example a number of profiles representing each day in a year.

If more than one lighting unit 210 is present in a habitat 12, thesoftware may sync the lighting units together so that that they act inconcert with one another. Depending on the number of lighting units 210and the layout of the habitat 12, the lighting units 210, 220 may besynced to provide identical outputs or to provide complimentary outputs.For example, in the storm profile discussed above, one lighting unit 10may flash to mimic lightning while other lighting units 210, 220 remaindark to mimic lightning from different locations and angles. In anotherexample, during a sunrise profile, the lighting unit 210 positionedfurthest to the east may begin to increase intensity and change colorprior to additional lighting units 220. The orchestration betweenfeatures may be programmed by the user and/or automatically selected bythe software. As discussed above, the lighting units 210, 220 may alsobe synchronized with other components in the habitat 12, such as pumps22. For example, different tides can be associated with different timesand light patterns, and the flow of the pumps 22 may be adjustedaccordingly. In the storm profile example, the pumps 22 may pulse tomimic heavy seas and strong winds.

The foregoing detailed description of the certain exemplary embodimentshas been provided for the purpose of explaining the principles of theinvention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilledin the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and withvarious modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.This description is not necessarily intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise embodiments disclosed. Any of theembodiments and/or elements disclosed herein may be combined with oneanother to form various additional embodiments not specificallydisclosed. Accordingly, additional embodiments are possible and areintended to be encompassed within this specification and the scope ofthe appended claims. The specification describes specific examples toaccomplish a more general goal that may be accomplished in another way.

Only those claims which use the words “means for” are to be interpretedunder 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.

1. A lighting unit, comprising: a housing; a LED emitter assembly atleast partially received in the housing, the LED emitter assemblycomprising a plurality of LED light emitters the LED light emittersconfigured so that the color emitted by at least one LED light emitterdiffers from the color emitted by at least one other LED light emitter;a heat sink operably associated with the LED emitter assembly; and a fanassembly at least partially received in the housing, the fan assemblycomprising a fan blade for generating airflow, and a curved bafflesituated over the fan blade for directing the airflow.
 2. The lightingunit of claim 1, further comprising a heat sink disposed over the LEDemitter assembly, wherein the curved baffle directs airflow in thedirection of the heat sink.
 3. The lighting unit of claim 1, furthercomprising a microprocessor electrically connected to the emitterassembly and the fan assembly.
 4. The lighting unit of claim 3, whereinthe LED light emitter comprises a first LED light emitter having a firstcolor and the LED light emitter assembly further comprises a second LEDlight emitter having a second color, the first LED light emitter beingcontrolled on a first channel and the second LED light emitter beingcontrolled on a second channel.
 5. The lighting unit of claim 3, furthercomprising a communication unit operably connected to themicroprocessor.
 6. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the housingcomprises a bottom cover having a grate through which the airflow isdrawn by the fan blade.
 7. A habitat comprising: a marine aquarium; andthe lighting unit of claim 1 above the marine aquarium.
 8. A lightingunit comprising: a core comprising a first side region, a second sideregion, and an interior region disposed between the first side regionand the second side region, the interior region comprising an openingand a heat sink for dissipating heat; a first LED emitter assemblyconnected to the core, the first LED emitter assembly comprising a firstlight emitter device; a second LED emitter assembly connected to thecore, the second LED emitter assembly comprising a second light emitterdevice, the first LED emitter assembly generating light of a first colorand the second LED emitter assembly generating light of a second color;and a fan for generating airflow along the heat sink.
 9. The lightingunit of claim 8, wherein the fan comprises: a fan blade for generatingthe airflow; a blade housing at least partially receiving the fan blade;a grate; and a hood for directing the airflow to the heat sink.
 10. Thelighting unit of claim 9, wherein the hood comprises a first curvedbaffle and a second curved baffle.
 11. The lighting unit of claim 10,wherein the heat sink comprises a first heat sink and a second heatsink, and wherein the first curved baffle directs air from the fan tothe first heat sink and the second curved baffle directs air from thefan to the second heat sink.
 12. The lighting unit of claim 8, furthercomprising a controller operatively associated with the first and secondLED light emitters, wherein the first and second light emitter devicesare controlled by the controller to generate light simulating any one ofnight, sunrise, day, sunset, lunar colors, storms, and solar cycles. 13.The lighting unit of claim 11, wherein the core is a unitary piece ofextruded material.
 14. The lighting unit of claim, wherein thecontroller is a microprocessor electrically connected to the first andsecond LED emitter assemblies and the fan.
 15. The lighting unit ofclaim 8, wherein the first LED emitter assembly further comprises atotal-internal-reflection lens.
 16. A lighting unit, comprising: ahousing; a LED light emitter contained in the housing, the LED emitterassembly comprising a plurality of LED light emitters the LED lightemitters configured so that the color emitted by at least one LED lightemitter differs from the color emitted by at least one other LED lightemitter; a USB port for connecting the lighting unit to a computer; andinternal memory for storing data received from a computer.
 17. Thelighting unit of claim 16, further comprising a microprocessor forprocessing the data received from the computer. 18-23. (canceled)